Spalding Grammar School

Spalding Grammar School, or as it is fully known The Spalding Queen Elizabeth Royal Free Grammar School, is a selective school on Priory Road in Spalding in Lincolnshire for pupils aged 11-18.

History

It was founded in 1588 by Royal Charter and located within Spalding Parish Church until the 19th Century. It was founded on its current site in 1881. In 1939, the school doubled in size. A large sports hall opened in 1991, and in January 2006, new buildings were opened for ICT, technology, English and drama (with a performing arts studio).

Admissions

In years seven to eleven, only male pupils are admitted, but the sixth-form accepts females as well. Spalding Grammar is a selective school, and its entrants in the lower school are permitted only by taking the county-wide 11+ tests.

The headteacher is currently Nigel Ryan (MA Cantab) and the Senior Student is Paul Hilliar.

The current number of pupils stands at 935[1]. The sixth form has 320 pupils (with 120 female). There are 68 teaching staff.

Specialist Status

In 2006, the school was granted Specialist Status as a Languages and Engineering College. It became the first school in Lincolnshire to gain joint Specialist Status in these subjects.

Accompanying the Specialist Status was building work to improve general aspects of the school, and to provide a Language Lab and Engineering Lab for the teaching of the subject .

The Dramatic Arts

Spalding Grammar School has a long history of dramatic performances. From the now defunct annual Speech Day Revue (where Sixth Form Students performed a showcase of songs and sketches about life at Spalding Grammar School) to more recent productions, such as Honk!, A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Tempest.

The most recent production was William Shakespeare's The Tempest. The production was performed in the round which director and current Head of English, David Wheeler believes allows a special relationship to develop between actor and audience. The script was condensed to around two thirds of its original length. This allowed modern songs to be added into the play, ranging from Genesis' 'I Can't Dance' to 'In The Navy' (originally by The Village People. The play was met overall positively and Spalding's local paper the Spalding Guardian gave the performance a strongly positive review .

A new play is yet to be announced for 2008.

Ethos and Aims

According to the official school website the ethos and aims of the school are:

• to ensure that each member of the school, staff and pupils, has every opportunity to attain her or his full potential intellectually, socially and personally.

• to provide for the welfare, development and equality of opportunity and access of all staff and pupils in a caring atmosphere and a stimulating environment which fosters good relationships, enjoyment and hard work.

• to assess potential and then encourage and inspire all pupils through well matched teaching and learning to achieve the best possible public examination results.

• to develop confidence and competency in a wide range of skills including literacy, numeracy, science and technology.

• to encourage and enable students to be fully prepared for the demands which will be placed upon them by continued education or by employers in a rapidly changing world.

• to foster an open and enquiring mind and an awareness of spiritual values, and to develop the qualities of moral integrity, self-reliance, initiative, responsibility and self-confidence that will enable pupils to cope with all the challenges they will meet in school, in their personal lives and in adult life.

• to encourage all pupils always to show consideration for others and to understand the value and importance of working in co-operation with others.

• to foster active involvement and participation in all lessons and in a wide range of extracurricular activities in order to develop confidence and a sense of achievement and to appreciate the value and importance of contributing to the wider community.

• to play a significant role in the community and to nurture and encourage links for the benefit of all.

Governors

The current governors are as follows: Chair of Governors - Mr K Casswell

Vice Chair - Mr K Bean

Headteacher - Mr W Nebby

Parent Governors - Mrs K J Cartwright, Mr J F Constable, Dr A Stone, Mrs S Barton

Staff Governors - Mrs C Lee, Mr D W Morris, Mr H Ripley

County Council Governor - Mr P Przyszlak

Foundation Governors - Mr R Baggaley, Rev. T Barker, Mr D Beecham, Mr R G Massey, Mr B Chappell, Mr R Oldershaw, Mr K Smith, Mr B Stray, Dr M Townsend

Location

The school is located in the south of Lincolnshire in the town of Spalding on Priory Road. The school is obliged to accept pupils from the council district of South Holland - an area of 500 square miles - meaning some pupils travel over 20 miles to reach the school.

See also

• Spalding High School - mainly a school for girls, but accepts boys into the sixth form.

Alumni

• Stuart Storey - BBC sports commentator.
• Jack Hobbs - defender at Liverpool F.C.

External links

• Spalding Grammar School
• BBC Education League Tables
• The Tempest Review from the Spalding Guardian